Windows and macOS artificially throttle CPU speeds even when plugged in, but a simple 60-second power setting fix boosts performance 5-20%.

When you first bought your computer, it booted up in seconds and ran like a dream. But things have changed over time.

“The most common cause of a slow computer is too many startup programs,” says Aaron Schoeffler, former COO of LaptopMD. “90 percent of programs want that permission to start when your computer starts ...